Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) property Restaurant Franchisee Country segment revenue_category Territory	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2007 segment	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of weeks in fiscal year	364 days	364 days	364 days
Cash and cash equivalents | $	$ 144,785,000	$ 104,004,000	$ 106,011,000		$ 64,537,000
Restricted cash included in other current assets | $	32,528,000	52,262,000
Restricted cash included in other noncurrent assets | $	$ 14,700,000
Number of Reporting Units | segment	3
Goodwill and Intangible Asset Impairment | $	$ 0	0	0
Category of Revenue, Number | revenue_category	4
Advertising expense | $	$ 1,900,000	2,900,000	2,900,000
Building improvements | Minimum
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Useful life of property and equipment	25 years
Building improvements | Maximum
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Useful life of property and equipment	40 years
Leaseholds and improvements | Minimum
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Useful life of property and equipment	3 years
Leaseholds and improvements | Maximum
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Useful life of property and equipment	40 years
Land | Minimum
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Useful life of property and equipment	2 years
Land | Maximum
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Useful life of property and equipment	10 years
Applebee's
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of restaurants | Restaurant	2,033
Number of Reporting Units | segment				2
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease, Number of Units | property	4
Number of territories in which entity operates | Territory	2
Number of countries in which entity operates | Country	15
Applebee's | Minimum
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Lessor Leasing Arrangements, Operating Leases, Term of Contract	10 years
Lessor Leasing Arrangements, Operating Leases, Renewal Term	5 years
Applebee's | Maximum
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Lessor Leasing Arrangements, Operating Leases, Term of Contract	20 years
Lessor Leasing Arrangements, Operating Leases, Renewal Term	20 years
IHOP
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of restaurants | Restaurant	1,683
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease, Number of Units | property	696
Lessor Leasing Arrangements, Operating Leases, Renewal Term	5 years
Advertising expense included in franchise revenue and expense | $	$ 108,100,000	90,300,000	$ 79,500,000
Number of territories in which entity operates | Territory	3
Number of countries in which entity operates | Country	9
IHOP | Minimum
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Lessor Leasing Arrangements, Operating Leases, Term of Contract	15 years
IHOP | Maximum
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Lessor Leasing Arrangements, Operating Leases, Term of Contract	25 years
Franchised | Applebee's
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of restaurants | Restaurant	2,033
Franchised | IHOP
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of restaurants | Restaurant	1,507
Company Operated | IHOP
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of restaurants | Restaurant	11
Number of restaurants reacquired and operated by the company until refranchised | Restaurant	1
Company Operated Excluding Restaurants Reacquired to be Refranchised | Applebee's
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of restaurants | Restaurant	23
Company Operated Excluding Restaurants Reacquired to be Refranchised | IHOP
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of restaurants | Restaurant	10
Franchised Units or Licensing Agreements | IHOP
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of restaurants | Restaurant	1,672
Prepaid Advertising and Gift Cards
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents | $	$ 72,300,000	56,200,000
Held in Trust Deposits
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Restricted cash included in other current assets | $	28,400,000	52,100,000
Held for Advertising Activity Deposits
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents | $	4,100,000
Restricted cash included in other current assets | $	$ 200,000
Revenue from Rights Concentration Risk | Largest Franchisees
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Concentration risk by percentage	26.00%
Revenue from Rights Concentration Risk | Accounts Receivable | Largest Franchisees
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of franchisees | Franchisee	2
Number of restaurants | Restaurant	895
Net accounts receivable | $	$ 19,000,000	$ 17,000,000
Revenue from Rights Concentration Risk | Accounts Receivable | Largest Franchisees | Minimum
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of restaurants per franchisee | Restaurant	400
Revenue from Rights Concentration Risk | Accounts Receivable | Largest Franchisees | Applebee's
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of franchisees | Franchisee	1
Revenue from Rights Concentration Risk | Accounts Receivable | Largest Franchisees | IHOP
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of franchisees | Franchisee	1
Revenue from Rights Concentration Risk | Sales Revenue, Net | Largest Franchisees
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Concentration risk by percentage	15.10%	13.20%